Tag: Josephine

Today marks three years since I saw or petted my beloved pet Josie! She was one of the sweetest dogs I have ever known. She died in her sleep and I found her lying on her favorite foot stole, at the foot of my bed.

She was white and had tan markings, and she had a belly covered in black freckles. She had the cutest face and was knee high in height. I will never forget the fourteen years I had with her. She brought so much love into our family. She grew up with my kids and with my granddaughter who was a year old when she died.

I first laid eyes on Josie when she was five months old. She was at a local no kill shelter here in my home town. She was being housed with a little beagle puppy, she absolutely adored playing with. They were on display because it was adoption day at this shelter, and they were placed right up front next to the front door of this shelter in wire pet play area. Josie was so white and had a spot of brown on her side of face and ear. She had pink nose skin with dotted black freckles. Her belly had a “S” branded on it, meaning that she was spaded. This was part of her charm. I mean a dog with its own tattoo is cool. She had tall thin legs and a long tail. her fur was short and she was so soft. Her almond looking eyes were so precious. I could tell she was a female dog because of her face shape. She looked feminine.

This dog was not going to be my dog I was just suppose to be petting animals, for the sheer joy of it. See, I had lost my miniature poodle, JOJO. It was hard on me and I did not want to take another dog right then. I had to have my JOJO put to sleep and he had been with me for fourteen years. he had been there in my life through some very difficult changes and things that happened. JOJO was special and well I did not know if my heart could take losing another dog.

My family insisted that we all go to the shelter this day and look at the animals. Just suppose to had been for fun. I was told they were worried for me, since I had lost JOJO and was feeling down. They were right. I was heart broken. But this dog, whom I saw here, at this shelter had something about her that was special. I sensed it right off. My family insisted I take her out and pet her. I was encouraged to adopt her as well. They said she was what I needed. So I hesitantly paid for and adopted her. She was so precious, I could not resist. Her ears at that time stood straight up in the air and she had the personality to match those spectacular ears. I fell in love with her and so did my family.

Later on, I would hear how she was thrown from a moving truck, along with her siblings, in the middle of a busy highway. I also heard that she was saved but scared of people a little more than usual. This was okay because I was going to heal her hurt with all the love I had, and she, in turn, healed a piece of my broken heart, that was in losing my JOJO. See, we saved each other, if you will. Near her 12th birthday, I took her to the vet because she was acting like she was in pain. Turns out she had arthritis in her spine. This was a result of the abuse she received by being thrown out of a moving vehicle. My baby was in pain. I didn’t like to know that. I don’t know how long she had been suffering from it but she still managed to get around and follow me. She should not have to have gone through that. That made me so sad. I watched a dog that ran around like she was on fire and having fun doing it, to a dog whose back legs became stiff and she struggled to get up and down off of things. She went from sleeping with me to have to sleep on a footstool, on the floor.

She always was skittish and shy. She would bow her head when being scolded for something. Very meek and mild, she would grow to be. She was a constant for me when I needed her love, she always gave it freely and wholeheartedly. I will never have another dog like her, but I will always cherish my time with her.

She was and will always remain a part of my heart! This dedication is to you, my darling, Josie. I will always love you! I miss you so much.